January 4, 2017 I shared that the Holy Spirit spoke to me that this year was to be a year of faith not fear.  Going back through that blog and reflecting on the experiences God brought me through, I can see where I have grown through this experience. Looking through life’s obstacles, challenges and celebrations with the eye of faith, changes everything.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1.  It was my go to word for 2017–what would faith look like in approaching financial challenges, how would faith approach a loved ones cancer diagnosis?  How would I get my leaking bathroom fixed on a limited budget?  I faced all those things and more this year.  You probably did so too.  Good things happen to all of us, so do “bad” things.  It is all about perspective.  Faith in God’s sovereignty, His character as well as His loving desire to intervene in our lives takes the”bad” things and as we begin to pray and stand tall against them, fear subsides and hope grows and God’s grace and direction begin to turn the bad into good.

Those of you who are following this blog through Word Press could access the early blogs on this subject on Impart Ministries website at impart.org.  Making the change to Word Press was a faith step that was a good thing!

I wrote a list last year of areas in our lives where we would be challenged to choose faith or fear.

Faith for change for yourself or others

Faith to embrace new or uncomfortable circumstances

Faith to embrace the quiet or silent period of waiting for answers to prayers

Faith to embrace God’s No’s to our prayers

Faith to embrace unexpected or surprising health issues, job issues, parenting or marriage issues

Faith to embrace God enlarged dreams that seem impossible

Faith to be the first to do something that will bring change to others

Faith to be the change

Faith to let go of old ways, old habits even when they are good–to receive better ones

Faith to love difficult people with God’s love

Faith to live honestly and compassionately with others

Faith to live with courage to follow the Lord

Faith to confront the areas where sin and the flesh have a hold in our lives

I know this is quite a list.  I am sure there are even more that we need to think about.  However, as I reviewed this list, I am grateful for the growth I can see in my own life in these areas.  I pray that as you contemplate 2018 you will determine to enter in with determination to grow in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faith comes by hearing, so it begins by choosing to read, study and meditate on God’s Word this year.  It is our dependable, strength-giving, perspective shifting living book of comfort, hope and direction.  Don’t neglect it!

Merry Christmas!  Tis the season to exchange greeting cards, wish clerks, acquaintances and practically all we meet with that cheerful greeting.  For the first time that I can remember I began to wonder, “why  Merry Christmas?”  How did that come to be the phrase that symbolizes the celebration of this amazing season of remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Of course, I googled it.  One of the websites states that the first recorded use of merry Christmas was written in 1534 in a letter from John Fisher to Thomas Cromwell in England.  The word Merry originally meant pleasant, peaceful and agreeable.  Somehow it has morphed through the years to have a more of a jovial meaning.

For all you history buffs, the phrase was used in the first commercial printed Christmas card as well as popularized in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol published in the same year (1843).  Someone else, also questioning the phrase, considered the fact that happy is an emotional condition whereas  merry is a behavior.  Happy (which we use with all other holidays–Happy Easter, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Holidays–developed from the word hap which had a connotation of luck to it.  To be happy can depend on our situation, our circumstances or even our mood.

So what are we communicating when we wish someone a merry Christmas?  I imagine it is like other things, we can use the phrase just as a filler, or a nice gesture or it can communicate a thoughtful message.  The dictionary definition of merry is cheerful and lively.  As I meander through these thoughts I realize I do wish my friends, family and readers a very merry Christmas. A Christmas celebration that is alive with the understanding of who we are celebrating!  We are celebrating the birth of our Savior who came not only over 2000 years ago but came into my life to bring His joy and salvation to me.  I do more than wish this, I pray it. I pray that as you celebrate this season, no matter how you do it, you will take the time to reflect on the fact that you have a Savior.  He is there to rescue us from our sin, to show us the way to go when we do not know the way, to bring his unfathomable peace when there seems no way to it.  God loved us soo much that He sent his only begotten son into our world to save us from our sins, and that is the good news we are trying to communicate when we say Merry Christmas.  I need this Savior everyday, and by God’s grace and mercy I have one–and you can too.  Just call on His name.  He is there, ask him to forgive you for your sins (wrong doing) and to make you His child and He will.  It takes faith (the ability to trust Him) to make this step, but it is so worth it.

I wish you all a very very Merry Christmas, one filled with His Joy, Grace and the lively awareness of His presence in your life.  He is there, look for Him. Merry Christmas

As 2017 is drawing to a close, for me it is a time of reflection.  Some years bring about more intense change than others.  My world totally shifted in 2010 when my beloved husband, suffered a major stroke.  So many shifts took place in an instant.  I went from wife–supporting my husband and partnering in our ministry together to caregiver, and in all ways practical, the head of our home.  As I sought stability and God’s perspective, I kept hearing accept this new normal in your life.  Then in 2012, my world shifted again as I went from wife to widow.  Another new normal to accept.

For many of my friends and acquaintances 2017 brought the same unexpected shifts.  Not all are considered “bad”..in fact many are welcomed.  A wedding, new baby, job promotion, or planned retirement all have many wonderful blessings embedded in them.  These are the more or less “planned” new normals.  They are opportunities that most people celebrate.

Unfortunately, for others  had their “new normal” thrust upon them, without their permission.  Those killed and injured in Las Vegas or in Sutherland Springs, Texas had their world invaded by pain and loss and must deal with their “new normal”.  Unexpected life altering diagnosis, infidelity discoveries, miscarriage or even unplanned pregnancy’s all impact  normal life.  As I struggled to accept my new normal first as a caregiver then as a widow (and believe me, it was a fierce struggle at times), I learned many lessons.

The event takes place, many times in a moment, but the processing of it in our soul and spirit takes much longer.  God began to talk to me about writing on this subject last week.  Saturday I learned about a young woman in our church who is facing her shocking new normal as her husband and the father of their young son passed away unexpectedly.  Another friend stopped by this week to share with me how the experimental chemo treatments that saved her husband’s life has altered his thinking processes and he is, currently, no longer able to work, much less be left alone.  One went from wife to widow, the other from wife to caregiver; they both must face their new normal.  How do we face such things?  How do we walk with those who are facing these changes?

It takes faith.  Both these women have a strong faith in Jesus, but they are also human and we must give them the opportunity to be real in their process.  I knew God was good.  I knew He was trustworthy, but I felt myself backing away from Him at times because I was not sure what else might come my way.  The amazing grace and mercy about having a relationship with Jesus is that He can handle it.  He can handle our questions and pain.  There is no perfect way to walk through grief and mourning.  The best gift you can give someone is to be there for them, and not expect them to have to do it in a “certain faith way”.  Remind them of God’s love, grace and mercy and maybe even agreeing that it is awful, hard and you are sorry they have to go through this, but you are there to walk it out.  Don’t expect them to always have the faith to walk it out–let them use yours.  Not with platitudes, but with the knowledge that you are praying with them, for them and knowing God has His plan to help them through whatever they are facing.

Accepting the new normal takes much time.  Somewhere along the process I had to bury my old normal.  I realized it was dead, and gone and the sooner I mourned  it and buried it the easier it was to adjust to my new normal.  I still, at times, long for my old married life.  Comparing my old normal to the new was life comparing apples to Brussels sprouts.  At the time of course the old (apples) would always win.  Partly because I looked at my old normal through perfection glasses.  I forgot about the bruises and sour parts and only remembered the sweet things.  The Holy Spirit reminded me about this one day…it was humbling.  I’m actually learning to enjoy Brussels sprouts!  The comparison game is a natural part of the transition process. People would say, what great memories you have, how wonderful.  I would think, yes, and I want more!  They are a comfort–but they are also a double edge sword.  It is much easier now to enjoy the memories but the desire for more has not really diminished.

One of the good things (Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them) has worked in and through my situation are these thoughts.  Years ago a friend was widowed and I watched God care for her.  It was her story that helped hold me steady through mine.  It is my prayer that my story, even with its many variations, will help others.

My words to each of you facing “new normal”.  You can do this.  You can trust our God to show up with His peace and comfort.  He will carry you through.  Those of you who are enjoying your normal life–do it! Enjoy the blessings, love your children, take care of your health and trust your Good Good God to equip you, love you and inspire you to help others to embrace and adjust to their new normal.  We need each other. Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.

Fill in the blank…is there always a place for faith in this journey we called life?  I think there is.  Do I always know how to walk in it?  Access it when I think I need it?  That would be a resounding no.  However, I am doing better in trusting Him through the dark tunnels that come our way.

Jesus asked a question in Luke 12:28. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith?  My first response, is “duh, I don’t know”.  But then when I did a little deeper into the question with the Word of God, I realize it is because I haven’t taken the time to learn of Him in those little faith areas.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  So  asking have I really heard His word in the areas I struggle to apply my faith.

In the course of my almost 60 years  of walking with Him as my Savior, I have learned a lot.  I need to learn a lot more. Learning to trust that He is my Rock, a dependable foundation for my life took some time.  I used to picture literally a large rock but between me and that solid rock was a layer of mud–squishy, slippery, cold and yucky mud.  I knew I was being held up by that rock, but things did not always feel that way.  Little by little, I felt that mud layer shrinking and my feet touching that rock much sooner than later!  I see that Rock as my stability, my place of peace and trust in Him and His ways no matter what kind of storm I walk through.

The muddy layer still comes from time to time–mostly in new areas of trust.  Relationships, healing, finances, parenting, marriage are all areas that we need to learn to apply, access and experience the outcome of walking in faith.  The only way we learn in these areas is to let the Holy Spirit teach us.  First we read and learn what the Bible has to say, and then begin to apply it.  Sounds easy doesn’t it?  Not always!  However, if we approach it right, we have the opportunity to walk with Him through the learning of the lessons–and grow in our relationship with Him.

Never forget in all the learning that the best learning is learning about Him.  Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at our local MOPS group (Mothers of Preschoolers).  The topic I was given was “worry”.  I remember being a young mom and all the opportunities to worry that comes with it.  The word worry comes from an old English word which means to strangle or choke.  I began to picture someone walking around with their windpipe partially strangled (not a pretty picture!).  I thought about how worry robs us of our strength, clouds our thinking and is a waste of time.  But still it happens.  Spiritual energy, emotional energy and even physical energy is lost trying to figure out many times things that are beyond our control.

This years theme for MOPS is Freedom.  Something that worry certainly robs us from.  We can become a slave to fear and its accompanying thoughts.  I took the time to think about how my worry thoughts can sound, and I believe the Holy Spirit showed me they are like the cawing of a crow.  Not very pleasant are they?  CAW, CAW you can’t do that, CAW CAW you are a terrible mom, CAW CAW you are going to get a terrible disease–etc.  What came to my mind is that we need to learn to shoot crow!  We shoot crow by knowing what the Bible says about us, our family and our future.  When we know who we are in Christ those caw cawing tormenting thoughts diminish.  We can silence them with the Word of God.  So many times we put up with what we consider the “small worries”, but they take their toll as well.  They are some of the little foxes that spoil the vine that is spoken about in the Song of Solomon.

The beneficial blessing of shooting the crows in our lives it is allows the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself to us.  This peaceful dove coo coos us with His calm down, I’ve got this.  Or words of encouragement, faith and direction on how to deal with life’s problems.  Just this week my washing machine wouldn’t turn on.  Immediately the Lord showed me when the problem occurred, who to call and within about 1/2 hour it was fixed.  A portion of my fence blew down during our recent wind storm.  I felt the Lord tell me I needed to check for damage and I did look out all the windows, but there is one portion of my fence that I can’t see.  My neighbor called and said, “Did you know your fence is down?”  I knew the reason she cared is that her dog can’t go out and play with my fence down!  I called my son-in-law Tim and within a 1/2 hour he was here with the wisdom to do a quick repair.  I had the nails and boards.  This morning my little kindle keyboard just stopped working in the middle of writing a sentence.  Not the battery, not anything I can see to fix.  But thank you Lord, I have my trusty PC to finish this blog.

These are all small issues in the scheme of life.  Reading through Matthew 6: 25-34.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

There is plenty to worry about if we give in to it.  How to shoot the crows in your life?  Ask the Lord to show you when you are worrying.  It can become such a habit that we are unaware of its work in our lives.  If you are struggling with a lack of peace, dealing with much fear or turmoil then you need to learn to shoot some crow.  Does your mind take you to the worse case scenario in every situation?  Do you stay there?  Then you need to learn to shoot some crow.

Stop yourself.  Take a deep breath.  Call on the Lord and ask for His help.  Like in any health issues, preventative care is preferable!  Build your home on the solid rock of His foundation and when the storms of life come, you will be able to stand in peace.  It is a learning process.  We can do it.  The reason my fence fell down is it rotted from the bottom.  That part we did not address yesterday, but it is inevitable.  Dig deep in His Word, dig deep with your trust in who our God is and get rid of all the crows that are trying to rob you of your joy, grace and peace.  Jesus paid the price for those things!

 

 

 

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Yesterday at Safeway the checker asked me “how are you doing today?”  I thought about mumbling “fine”–but instead I said, “I’m practicing not worrying”.  She looked at me like I was a bit off, so I said with a smile “Have you ever done that?”  She, did the mumbling, and sort of said “no. But I probably should”.  Next week I get the privilege of teaching on the topic of worry to a bunch of moms.  Wouldn’t you know it–God has me in the middle of some serious things I could really get my worry on about.

I both appreciate and have to laugh at the timing of this pre-scheduled teaching time.  I said yes a few months ago when my life was feeling pretty tame and at peace.  No problem.  I would love to share on this topic.  Then some of life`s unexpected challenges began to arise and I am faced with the challenge do I practice what I am going to preach or not?  Am I going to apply the lessons the Holy Spirit has been showing me, or simply  talk some decent sounding, but empty of life experience platitudes.

I believe God.  I believe God’s Word and I believe His promises. A very close relative of mine has been diagnosed with a very difficult diagnosis. The temptation to worry, at times looms large.  However, because of my prepping for this teaching, I am having more victories that not, thank you Jesus.  Is it easy?  No.  Is it a struggle yes it is.

Our choice during these type of things is to look up or look down.  My devotion for this morning led me to Psalm 121:1-2  I look up to the mountains–does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  We live in an amazing place.  When the skies are clear we can see mountains all around us.  They stand strong and majestic–many snow-covered all year around.  On the way for some lab work yesterday we looked up at the mountains.  The comfort came in the fact we are both trusting the God who made those mountains to help navigate her through this difficult season.  The Lord reminded me a couple of days ago that we need to just take one day at a time.  Her treatment schedule keeps changing so one days plans are swapped for another.  But we are trusting Him to be the God of these changes.

When I am tempted to worry, I put on some worship music and His peace and calm shifts my thoughts to His grace.  We talked yesterday about things we are thankful for.  It was such a blessing we did not have to search our thoughts for a long time–but immediately we came up with several specifics for which we were grateful.  I am saddened that she has to go through this, but it makes me so much more aware of how many others are fighting similar battles.  We choose to trust Him for this day, knowing His grace is sufficient for what we all need for today.  It is my choice to release my faith for her and her family.

I want to remind us today:  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  I Peter 5:7

The magnificent gift of grace–that wonderful gift that joins our humanity with the power and wonder of our powerful God.  Grace that has been defined as God’s unmerited favor.  My working definition is God meeting us at the point of need.  I am so glad for God’s grace and mercy.  Showing up when I feel my faith is small.  Helping me through dark and difficult times.  Oh how I depend on His grace.

At times it is undefinable.  It seemed elusive to me as a young Christian.  Pick up a concordance and simply read some of the descriptive words surrounding grace.

Undeserved  Acts 15:11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

Wonderful Romans 5:21  So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Overflowing 2 Corinthians 9:14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.  Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words.

Marvelous  Galatians 1:15  But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.

It is often coupled together with Kindness.  Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

I think you get the picture.  We need his grace.  This morning I wrote another blog called Faith and Waiting.  I lost it somewhere in cyberspace.  However I also found out some news that is difficult for our family, but I cannot be more specific right now.  Please pray for us.  Philippians 4:6-7 is very applicable right now.  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I need is to follow.

Have you ever ridden a bike?  It took my sisters and I awhile to learn how.  I think we were eleven or twelve when our parents finally succumbed to our oft calling requests to buy us bikes.  (You know those, please, please please children requests!) I know it was in the summer and we tried and tried to learn to balance and become true bike riders.  We finally figured out if we went to the top of the hill outside our drive way the momentum of hill helped us and we finally succeeded.  For some reason they bought two bikes for the three of us (remember we are triplets) so there was a lot of squabbling on who got to ride when.  But we did finally learn and it felt glorious to feel the wind in our hair as we rode along under pedal power.  However, no one bothered to tell us that where your eyes look is where you end up!  Until we learned that piece of information, we also had some crashes.  I think it is the same in walking this faith walk.

Distractions pop up all the time.  I saw a car commercial the other day that actually showed a track with built-in distractions that measured the car and the driver’s ability to react to unexpected  situations.  Giant balls, balloons and other things seemingly random would pop up around the track.  They are developing a “smart” car that can help the driver avoid accidents.

fortunately we have some smart help, if we choose to use it for our faith walk.  It is the foundation of the Word and our choice to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).  The word focus means to concentrate attention or effort on something.  When we focus on the Lord through His Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit our perspective changes and faith arises.  Having the right focus helps eliminate the distractions that would take you off course, because you are concentrating on Him.  When we truly remember who Jesus us is: our Savior, the lover of our soul, our provider, our healer, our intercessor, our hope then our faith arises and discouragement flees.  We may not know how it will turn out, our how we will get down the road, but we know that we will not have to do it alone.  Learning to ride those bikes with my sisters was challenging, but it was fun because we were doing it together.  We shared stubbed toes and skinned knees, it wasn’t easy but we all did it!

We need to remember we are not alone in our faith journey, no matter how it feels.  Will we do it all “right”, nope, not a chance.  Even those “smart” cars get into accidents, but we will probably make fewer mistakes and know that when we do, we can learn from them.  Each morning choose to fix your eyes on Jesus. Thank Him for directing your day and invite Him walk through the day with you.  Begin to look for Him in your routine tasks.  This way when trouble (like unexpected news) or difficulties arise, you will already be prepared for their encounter because you know you are not alone.  The peace of God begins to guard your heart and life becomes less stressful.  I have tried it both ways, this is much better!